\vc began to feel the invigorating influence of the 

 pure air. From Little St. John's Cross, we passed , 

 through the deep cutting in Pocombe Hill; and, 

 dipping into the valley beyond, crossed the brook, 

 and climbed the opposite hill ; from the top of 

 which (for more than a mile) the road proceeds on 

 a ridge, called Long Down, presenting a bird's-eye 

 view of rural scenery on each side — with white 

 farm-houses, just visible among the trees, small 

 fields skirted with tall hedges, patches of coppice, 

 and a gentleman's mansion, backed by a precipitous 

 circular hill, which a local antiquary has discovered 

 to be the site of an ancient military station. 

 Beyond the three-mile stone is a roadside inn, 

 well known to visitors to the Teign as a half-way 

 house ; here we paused a short time, for my less 

 active companions to refresh themselves. At 

 a short distance beyond this, a turn in the road 

 (on the same ridge) affords magnificent views. 

 On the left hand lay the estuary of the Exe, with 

 the oblique rays of the sun upon its waters, giving 

 them the appearance of molten silver ; and in the 

 far distance, we obtained a glimpse of the ocean, 

 seen between the rising grounds of Exmouth and 

 Langstone Cliff, forming the entrance to the port. 

 On the right hand, looking through a picturesque 

 valley, may bo seen the hills of Dartmoor, and the 

 tall Cawsand, said to be the highest in Devonshire, 

 and not less than fourteen miles distant. On 

 descending the hill (about a mile further on), we 

 have a beautiful view of Culverhouse, a mansion 

 in the Elizabethan style, the seat of the Rev. 

 Sub-Dean Stephens, son-in-law of the Bishop of 

 Exeter. The road from this point proceeds along 

 the bottom, skirted by a small brook, on the sides 

 of which are many fruitful orchards ; and is 

 bounded by long lines of hills, the fields on which 

 seem to have been recovered from the primeval 

 woods. Close to the five-mile stone is a little cider 

 shop, kept by an ancient dame, and so low that it 

 seems but a step from the roof to the road; and 

 half a mile further, we turn from the main road 

 into a new road to the left, which leads us direct 

 to the river Teign. This last is here crossed by 

 a stone bridge originally of two arches, but which 

 has since been widened by one arch. Turning to the 

 left, down the course of the stream, about a quarter 

 of a mile distant is the Teign House Inn. Arrived 

 here, our first duty was to order breakfast; and, 

 having met with no assistance on the road, T 

 was pleased to find that my friends had accom- 

 plished the journey with comparatively little 

 fatigue, though it had occupied nearly four hours 

 (the ordinary allowance for practised pedestrians 

 is two hours and ten minutes). This is perhaps 

 - one of the sweetest spots in Devon, but I shall 

 not trust myself to attempt a description ; and it 

 has the additional recommendation of an inn, 

 which, for rural refreshments, quantity, quality, 

 cleanliness, and good attendance, may be con- 

 sidered "luxurious." The previous exercise, and 

 the pure air, had acted as incentives to appetite, 

 still further stimulated by the delicious yet homely 

 fare. I never knew one who breakfasted here for 

 the first time, who did not ackowledge himself more 

 than satisfied. We did ample justice to the fair 

 Mary's provision. This consisted of home-made 

 bread, bacon, eggs, butter, cream, &c, &c. We 

 now re-crossed the river by the ivy-covered bridge, 

 near to the house, and proceeded along the banks 



down the river — my companions pausing to admire 

 the picturesque beauties around them, while I 

 tried the temptation of flies for the speckled trout 

 with which this river abounds. Our course was, 

 about a mile and a half, through fields and orchards, 

 and over stiles and hedges, until we reached the 

 Fishermen's Inn at Ashton, where the kind-hearted 

 Mrs. Taylor supplied us with a simple refection 

 by way of lunch. Here I inquired for a miner 

 with whom I was acquainted, and who had long 

 promised to show me a silver-lead mine in the 

 neighborhood. I was informed that he had left 

 that part of the country ; but another miner who 

 was present (and whom I had previously known as 

 a skilful fisherman) offered to perform the same 

 kind office. I may mention as an instance of the 

 good feeling borne towards me in this locality (to 

 which I had been a frequent visitor), that this 

 man told me he had saved several mineralogical 

 specimens for me, which he afterwards forwarded 

 to me. The mine was nearly a mile from the inn. 

 After resting ourselves, we proceeded thither, to 

 explore its recesses. Being Saturday afternoon, 

 we found the men leaving work ; but the cap- 

 tain was present, and he at once lent us proper 

 dresses, and gave us the use of the count house, 

 where we equipped ourselves in a style which 

 proved efficient disguises even from one another. 

 Taking off merely our upper coats, we put on large 

 canvas trousers, flannel over- coats of most capa- 

 cious make, and linen caps under hard broad- 

 brimmed hats (to protect us from any falling 

 stones). We were then furnished with candles, 

 stuck in lumps of wet clay ; and we seated ourselves 

 in what appeared to be iron boxes, mounted on 

 four small wheels, which ran upon a narrow rail- 

 way. The mineral treasures of the mine were not 

 approached by a shaft, but through a tunnel. The 

 entrance was from the side of a precipitous hill, 

 running nearly on a level for about three quarters 

 of a mile, and so small that the mouth appeared 

 no bigger than a moderate -sized closet. My cousin 

 and myself were seated in one carriage, crouched 

 together within its narrow sides ; the Dominie 

 (in compliment to his lame leg) had a carriage to 

 himself; and each was propelled by a miner. After 

 proceeding about half a mile into the bowels of the 

 earth, and crossing the mouths of one or two shafts, 

 which were driven downwards, we reached a wider 

 space, about the centre of the hill, and proceeded 

 about a quarter of a mile further on foot, occasion- 

 ally feeling ourselves splashing through water ; 

 and stooping to prevent knocking our heads against 

 the superincumbent rocks. On approaching the 

 end, we turned out down a branch cutting ; and 

 from heaps of rich lead ore which lay before us, to 

 the extent of several tons, we selected some con- 

 venient-sized pieces for specimens, and turned to 

 retrace our steps. On regaining the open air, we 

 found plenty of soap and water, and a little maiden 

 with a towel, by the aid of which we refreshed 

 ourselves; and having regained our attire, returned 

 by the road to the inn where we breakfasted. 

 Here I was anxious to obtain assistance for my 

 companions on the road home ; and with reasonable 

 hope, as, owing to the mining enterprise in the 

 neighborhood, it was not uncommon for several 

 vehicles to start in the evening for Exeter. How- 

 ever, on reaching the inn, we found there was but 

 one fly, for which four gentlemen (who were seated 



